Gravity press



A. POHLE GRAVITY PRESS June 14, 1938.

Filed April 24, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 www.

ATTORNEY June 14, 1938. A. POHLE GRAVITY PRESS Filed April 24, 1937 4Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY `une 14, 1938. A PQHLE 2,120,679

GRAVITY PRESS Filed April 24, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEY `une 14,1938. A POHLE 2,120,679

` GRAvTY PRESS Filed April 24, 193'? 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 274 6 25o W f i Vl I r/ ,WJ/ Hg] f ""LXVW; l 246 lt i 252/2 |l i 276 /270 l w/ 273 v i ll1 1 y 1 246i I l E )IK/257 X 257 252 52 I 7 i y 5266 11 @.6 66 I 22262lll will.

ATTORNEY maagd June 14,1938

UNITED STA-TES PATENT l oi-Fics yafecten GRAVITY PaEss Albert mme,Brooklyn, N. Y. t Applicaton'AprilM, 1937, Serial No. 138,741

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a gravity press. The object of the inventionis the production of a gravity press for embossing doilies, letterheads,leather goods, and various other articles.

The organization of the invention comprises a gravity press having amale and female die for objects to be embossed. The said objects areautomatically positioned between the dies by clamping devices. The loweror male die is struck by a female die which drops at predeterminedintervals. Clamping devices, by means of a conveyor'locate the objectsto be embossed between the -dies at the proper times. The objectsembossed are transferred to a conveyor which positions them one aftervthe other on a table board.

The essential object of the invention is the production of means forcontrolling the upper or female die of the press.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the description of theinvention :as set forth.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 representsfa side elevation of anexemplification of the improved gravity press; Fig. la shows an enlargedfragmentary portion of Fig. 1;l Fig. 2 shows a topv view of Fig. 1 withaportion in section; Fig. 2a indicates an enlarged partial section ofFig. 1 on the line 2a, l a; Fig. 3 indicates a partial left hand view ofFig. 1; Fig. iis a section of Fig. 3 on the line 4, 4; Fig'. 5 indicatesan enlarged section of Fig. l on the line 5,` 5;

Fig. shows a right hand view of some of the.

' elements of Fig. 5; Fig. 6a shows portions of 3 Fig. 6 on an enlargedscale; Fig. 7 represents a top view of Fig. 5; Fig.A 8 indicates anenlarged partial section of Fig.-1 on the line 8, 8; Fig. 9 is apartial-section of Fig. 8 on the line 9, 9.and Fig. 10 shows a side viewof va clutch sleeve. Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the improved gravitypress comprises a pair of side frames 20 and 25.

vrEach of the side frames comprises the lower ,tapered portion 28, whichjoins with the upper rectangular upper portion 29. A central bridge i 30is fastened to the frames 20 and 25 at about the central portionsthereof, and an upper bridge 3| is fastened to the top ends of saidframes.

At the lo` er ends of said frames are shown the feetv 32, which lateraresupported upon and fastened to the base plate 35. 1

'I'he main drive shaft 48 of the press has its ends journaled in thebearings 4i of the frames 20 and 25. A one revolution trip clutchmechanism, see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10, is indicated to comprise aclutch sleeve loosely supported on (Cl. 101-3) y the shaft 48. Theclutch sleeve -comprises the portion 43 which has `integral therewiththe enlarged portion 44 having the heel 45. The portion v 43 has alongitudinal opening 48. The shaft 40 is 1 flattened for the wearingstrip 48, which is 5' rslida-bly supported a plunger 51 having va shoe58, at one end. A spring 59 bears against one end of the cavity 59a inthe housing 5.6 and the shoe 58, to force the latter to the portion 44of the sleeve.v A groove (i2l is indicated in the portion 15 44 of theclutch-sleeve for the shoes 58. A collar 83 is fastened to the shaft 48and bears against the portion 44 of the clutch sleeve, to maintain theclutch mechanism laterally in position.

A bearing 10, see Figs. 1 and 3, is integral with 20 the frame 25 andsupports thestud 1i having the collar 12 at one end, and is clamped inplace `by the nut 13. A hub 15, is supported on the stud.1l. `betweenthe frame 25 and the collar 12.

From the hub 15 extends a bell crank compris- ,25v

ing the clutch dog 11 and the arm 18. A spring 19 has one end fastenedYto the frame 25 and its other end is fastened to the clutch dog 11.

On a rod 281, vto be described, is supported the sleeve 80, which hasintegral therewith the jour- 30 nal bracket 8l, andthe latter supports apin 82. A treadle 83 hasone end fastened to the pin 82. 'An arm 84 hasone end fastened to the pin s2. A unk ss has its ends pivoted to thearms 18 and 84. 35

When the operator bears on the treadle 83, the clutch dog 11 is releasedfrom the heel 45 of the portion 44 of the clutch sleeve. vIt is to be.understood that the ygear 55 continuously turns during the operation ofthe press. When the 40 clutch dog 11 has been. released, the shoes 58will cause the sleeve having the portion 44 to turn a little, and theclutch roller 50 is wedged between the'wearing strip 48 and the hub ofthe gear 55, and thereby the shaft 4o is turned. 5

A worm gear housing is supported on the base plate 35. An electric motor9i is carried by the housing 90. A pinion of the worm gear housing isindicated at 93 and is in mesh with 50 the gear 55. l

With the rotations of the motor 9i the gear 55 is turned. On the maindrive shaft 40 is fastened the gear 95 (see Figs. 1 and 3). A cam and 25and has fastened thereto the gear 00 which is in mesh with the gear 03.

Referring to Figs. l and 3, a pair of cams |03 are fastened to the camshaft 00. A pair of slide blocks |03 are loosely supported on the shaft03. A pair 0|' cam forks |01 each have a bifurcated member |03 and each'cam fork has fastened thereto a lifting rod |00, by the screws |00a, asindicated. 'Ihe lifting rods |00 are guided in the guide ways ||0 of theframes 20 and 25. One of the rods |00 has integral therewith the lug Acap ||2 is bolted to each of the frames 20 and 25 over the guide ways||0, to maintain the lifting rods |00 in operative position.

To each of the cam forks |01 is journaled a roller ||3 on the studs I|4. 'Ihe bifurcated members |00'straddle the slide-blocks |03. 0n oneend of the cam shaft 00 is fastened a V groove pulley ||5. Adjacent tothe gear 00 is fastened to the cam shaft 00, a cam ||0. 'I'he upperportion of each of the frames 20 and 25 has indicated therewith a pairof angle shaped guides |20, see Figs. 3 and 4. Four gibs |2| each havinga V shaped groove |22, are positioned in the angle shaped guides, |20.Two of said gibs |2| are clamped in position by the bolts |23, and theother two gibs |2| are held in position by the bolts |25, said boltsextending through the guides |20. The latter gibs are adjusted in placeby the bolts |21 with the jam nuts |20.

A` slide is indicated in its entirety by the numeral |30, see Figs. 3and 4. The slide |30 has integral therewith the' cylindrical die head|32. At the lower end of the die head |32 is indicated the movable dieholder |33 having the dovetail sides |34. A pair of clamping plates |35are bolted to the front and rear portions of the die head |32 todetachably hold the die holder |33, in place. To the die holder |33 isfastened the female die |36, by balls not shown. The die |36 can beplaced in different angular positions. A male die |31 can be fastened indifferent angular positions to the die holder |38, having the dovetailsides |30. The holder |36 is slidably supported above the central bridge30. 'I'he said holder |30 is detachably locked in place by the clampingplates |35a, that extend from the bridge 30. A pair of Wings |40 areintegral with the slide |30. Each of the Wings |40 has formed therewitha pair of V shaped grooves |42. A plurality of balls |44 are positionedbetween each of the grooves |42 and its adjacent groove |22. Plates |45are bolted to the Wings |40 to maintain the balls |44 in position. Fromeach of the wings |40 extends an adjusting bracket |48, and each of thelatter carries an adjusting screw |50 with the jam nuts |5|.

-From the upper end of the die head |32 extends the cylindrical guidebar |53. At the upper end of the guide bar |53 is fastened a stop plate|54 by means of the pin |55.

At the upper end of the guide bar |53 yare shown a pair of adjustingnuts |56. A shock absorbing spring |51 is loosely supported on the guidebar |53 and bears against the bridge 3|.

Inthe guide bar |53, see Figs. 1, la and 3, is indicated thelongitudinal keyway |50 for the key |50. The latter is fastened in placeby the screws |60.

To the gibs |2| (see Fig. 4) are fastened a pair loi journal brackets|62 which support a cross shaft |63. A bell crank |64 having the arms|65 and |66 is supported on the cross shaft |63. The said arm |66 isadapted `to bear up against one end of the key |50.

Toapairoftheangleshapedguidesinare ,bolted the journal brackets |30,which support lindicated a pair of adjusting nuts |0|.

On top of the bridge 3| is supported a journal bracket |00 having theleg |0|, by means of the screws |02. Y

A shaft |04 is journaled in the bracket |00 and at the central portionof the shaft |04 is fastened the cam |03. At one end of the shaft |04 isfastened the hub end of a handle |06.

At the upper end of the bracket |00 is journaled a second shaft |01. Onthe shaft .|01 is loosely supported a bell crank having the arms |00 and|00. To one end of the arm |00 is connectedone end of the spring 200.The other end of the spring 200 is connected to the leg |0|.'

The operation of the die head |32 is as follows.

When the clutch mechanism for the main driv-l ing shaft 40 is engagedtherewith, the said shaft turns. .Thereby the gears 05 and 00 areturned. The cam shaft 00 turns with the gear 00 and the said cam shaft00 makes one revolution for every revolution of the clutch mechanism.The cams |05 of the shaft 00 raise the cam forks |01. The lifting rods|00 rise with the forks |01. The lifting rods |00 abutting against thescrews |50, cause the die head |32A to rise. When the cams |05 raise thedie head |32 to the end of its up stroke, the arm |66 of the bell crank|64 locks with the key |50. At this instant the die head |32 is held inlocked position at the upper end of its stroke. The lifting rods |00 nowreturn to their lower position. At the end of the down stroke of therods |00 the lug will contact with the adjusting nuts 0| of theadjusting rod |00. The said rod |00 swings down the lever |13 and thearm |15 will contact with the bell crank arm |65, which disengages thebell crank arm |66 from the key |50. By this means the die head |32 withthe die drops by gravity and coacting with the lower die describedembosses the object operated upon.

When the female upper die Idrops to the end oi' its stroke, the tensionof the spring |51 cushions the force of its descent and provides meansfor the' rebounding of the female or upper die.

For the operator of the press to locate the dies i in place, or makeadjustments, a safety device is provided to avoid injury by the descentof the die head |32.

When the operator swings the handle |03 in the direction of the arrow MFig. l, the cam |05 releases the arm |00 from the stop plate |54, bymeans of which the die head |32 can descend. Whenthe handle |06 is inthe position indicated (see Fig. l) the dieA head |32 cannot descend.The spring |51 as shown in Fig. 1 acts as a cushion for the die head |32and the location of the nuts |56 controls the force when the die head isat the end of its down stroke.

To the base plate 35 are fastened pairs of brackets 206. 'Ihe saidbrackets 203 support each one end of a rod 201. Stands 200 haveextending therefrom the vertical supporting rods 2|0 and 23 aiaovo 2|`|.Each of theiatter rods supports a bracket 2|2. 'The lattereach supportone end of the rods 261. On the supporting'rods 2|6 are secured thejournal and supporting brackets 2li. At the upper end of eachsupDQrtlngrod 2li is fastened a journal and supporting bracket 2|3 at the rear orexit end of the apparatus. -From the bars 246 the latter being to bedescribed extends the curved guide plate 2 |8a. With each of thebrackets 2-|8 is indicated the lug 213.-: On each of the rods 2|| issupported .the triangular shaped bracket mwitn thermclined table board223. The latter has adjustably connected thereto the stop angleplate225.

yAn adjusting screw 236. is carried by each of the brackets zie. At

23|. A- shaft 232 with the roller 233 is supported in the journalbrackets 23|. At the upper ends of thebrackets`2|8 is journaled aconveyor drive chain shaft 235. To the shaft 235 are fastened the largesprocket chain wheels 236 and the small sprocket chain wheel 233. In thesupporting brackets 2|5 is journaled a conveyor chain shaft 24|. Thelatter has fastened thereto the large sprocket chain wheels 244. Pairsof supporting bars are indicatedat 246 which are supported at theirouter ends by the brackets 2|5 and 2|3, and at their inner ends bythebridge 36, and have connected thereto the crossbars 241.

A feed table 256 is supported on the supporting bars 246.

A pair-of conveyor sprocket chains are each indicated at 252 and aresupported upon the sprocket chain wheels 2381and 244. Each of the chains252 carries a plurality of pins 253 (see Fig. and on each of said pinsis journaled a guide roller 254. A pair of guide rails 256, each havingthe U shaped groove 251, have integral therewith the legs 258. Thelatter are supported upon and fastened to the cross bars 241. i

The guide rollers 254 engage the U shaped grooves 251. The rails 256have extending therefrom the legs 256.`

The members 26| and 262 of a table are supported on the bars 246 and thelugs 253. To the connecting bars 241 are fastened a plurality ofbrackets 265, one of which is shown in Fig. 5. The brackets 265 supportthe central member 266, of said table. To each of the chains 252 areconnected a plurality of clamping devices, each `designated in itsentirety by the numeral 216,

with each clamping bar 213 is indicated a journal bracket 214. In eachpair of the journal brackets 214 is journaled a shaft 215;I To the shaft215 is fastened a clamping lever, comprising a pair of arms 216 with theconnecting member 211. A rubber pad 21.8 is fastened to the lower faceof the member 211. A tapered operating arm 286 for each clamping device216 is integral with one of each pair of arms 216. At one end of theshaft 215 is supported the helical spring 282. One end of the spring 282is fastened to one of the. journal brackets, 214 and its other end isfastened to a tension collar 283,

fastened to the shaft 215.

On one of the bars 246 (see Fig. 1) is fastened a journal bracket 288,and to'the fastened a journal bracket 283. yA rack shaft one end of eachof the .screws 236 is supported an open journal bracket bridge 36 is 236has its ends journaled in the brackets 283 and 283." A lever 233 havingthe forked end 234 has its hub end fastened to the shaft 236. AconnectingV rod 235 connects the forked end 234 of the lever 233 and thetreadle 83. A controlling arm 236 is vfastened to oneend of theshaft'236 and coacts with the operating Varm 286.' A bell crank, (seeFig. `1) 231 having the arms,238 and 233, is pivcted to the frame zo, bymeans of the pivot zoo. To the arm 233 is journalel a roller362 whichcoacts with the cam I |8 Illhe arm 238 has a forked end 363, whichcarries a pin 364. The pin 364v supports the rod 366,`having a thread atone end for the clamping nuts 361 and 368, which bear against the pin364.

The other end o i the rod 366 has an eye end 363. A journal bracket 3|6and a journal bracket 3|| are fastened to the bridge 36. The bracket 3|6has integrall therewith the 'journal bearing 3|6a and has extendingtherefrom the pin 3|2.

guide 3|3, and journal bearing 3|5. A vertically sliding rack bar 3| 6is guided in the rack guide -3|3 and is shown with the forked member 3|1at its lower end. The latter is pivoted to the connecting rod 366, bymeans of the pin- 319. Inthe journal brackets 3|6 and 3|| is journaled.a cross shaft 32|.v A gear 322 is'loosely supported on the shaft 32| andis in mesh with the teeth of the sliding rack bar 3|6.A

To the gear 322 is fastened the ratchet wheel 323 having a pair ofteeth.A On the shaft 32| is. fastened a disc 321 which carries alpawl323- 'Ihe latter coacts with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 323. To thecentral portion of shaft 32| is fastened' a sprocket chain wheel 336. Asprocket chain 332 engages the sprocket chain wheels 336 and 233.

In' the journal-bearings 3|6a and 3| 5`` is 'supported a shaft 335. Abelt pulley 336 is fastened to the central portion of the shaft 335. Toone end of the shaft 335 is fastened a pulley 338 having the V groovev333. nects the pulley 338 and the pulley ||5. A belt 342 connects thepulley 336 and the pulley 233.

0n the table 256 are placed a plurality of doilies 345 or other objectsto be embossed.

When the press stops the operating arm 286' contacts with the lever 236,and thereby the arm y 211, which is normally inthe closed position, isswung operi.'l The operator now places` one or more doilies between theclamping bar 21'3 the rubber pad 218 (see Figs. 6 and '1). The operatornow bears on the treadle 83, and the connecting rod 235 pulls down thelever 233 and thereby the shaft 236 is slightly turned. At the same timethe arm 236 moves to permit4 movement of the member 211 of the clampingdevice.

The clamping device 216 gripsv one or morepf `the doilies 345 and movesthem in position beand the conveyor chain shaft 235 is turned by chainwheels 233. The rotations the sprocket of the sprocket chain Wheels 233turn the shaft 235. The wheels 238 turn with the shaft 235 to drive thechains 252. '4

A V shaped belt 346 conand Each time the operator trips the foot treadle83, the chains 252 move in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 1, and thedoilies 345 are carried around the sprocket wheels 220, within 'theguide plate 2I8a and move with the chains 252 untilA the operating arm 2strikes the pin SI2 and the members of the clamping device 210 areopened.

t, The doilies now drop to the beit 342 and are vconveyed in thedirection of the arrow B, Fig. 1 to the table board 222, on which theyare deposited for removal. The stop angle plate 225, can be adjusted invarious positions for doilies of different sizes. A

Attention is called to the fact that the members of the clamping devicehaving the arms 216 can be moved forward or to the rear by locating the`sprocket chain wheels 232 in different angular -positions on the shaft235, to cause the chains 252 Fto locate the clamping device having thearms-216 with the doilies in proper position.

The operating arm 296 is alsoadjustable to open the members of theclamping device 210, when the chain 252 is stopped between the dies |36and |31.

Various modifications might be made in the invention and the presentexempliiication -is to be taken as illustrative and not limitativethereof.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a pairof frames, gibs supported on the frames, each of said gibs having a Vshaped groove, a slide in the apparatus, said slide being V shapedgrooves positioned oppo site the V shaped grooves in the gibs, aplurality of balls in the V shaped grooves of the slide and its coactingV shaped groove in its adjacent gib and plates at the top and bottomends of the slide for each plurality of balls.

2. In an apparatus of the character described the combination of a pairof fra'mes, an upper bridge connecting the upper ends of the frames, areciprocating slide supported in the frames, a die hea'd carried by theslide, a female die carried by the die head, a guide bar extending fromthe slide and actuated thereby, said guide bar extending through saidbridge, a shock absorbing spring encircling the guide bar and bearing onsaid bridge, a pair of adjusting nuts on the guide contacting with saidspring upon the descent of the die head, a central bridge connecting ysaid frames, a die holder supported on the central bridge, a male diecarried by said die holder, said adjusting nuts with the descent of thedie head contacting with said spring and cushioning the blow of thefemale die and rebounding the same.

3. Ina press of the character described thel combination of a pair offrames, a cam shaft journaled in the frames, means to rotate the camshaft, cams supported on the cam shaft, a pair of cam forks in thepress, a roller journaled to each cam fork coacting with said cams tomove the cam forks, a lifting rod connected to the upper end of eachcamfork, a slide guided in the press, a dier at the lower end of theandavo slide, brackets extending from the slide, and an adjusting screwsupported in each bracket coacting with said lifting' rods to raise theslide with the rotation of the cam shaft.

4. Inv a press of the character described the combinationof a pair offrames, a lifting rod adjacent to each frame, a slide guided in theframes, a die head carried by the slide, a guide bar extending from thedie head, means to lift the lifting rods', a lug integral with one ofthe lifting rods, an adjusting rod guided in said lug, a pair ofadjusting nuts at the lower end of the adjusting rod, a shaft journaledat the upper -portions of said frames, an arm and a lever extending fromsaid shaft, the swinging end of the lever pivoted to the adjusting rod,a second shaft journaled at the upper portions of the frames, a bellcrank fastened to the latter shaft, and means on the guide bar adaptedto be locked with an arm of said bell crank, the lifting rod having thelug when descending engaging the sad'adjusting nuts and thereby causingthe lever extending' from said rst shaft to swing down and therebyforcing the arm of the latter shaft against one of the arms of the bellcrank an'd thereby disenV gaging the other arm of the bell crank fromthe guide rod.

5. In a press of the character described the combination of a pair offrames, a lifting rod adjacent to each frame, a slide guided in theframes, a die head carried by the'slide, a. guide bar extending from thedie head, means to raise the lifting rods, means between the liftingrods and slide to raise the latter with the up stroke of the liftingrods, a lug integral with one of the lifting rods, an adjusting'rodguided in said lug, a pair of adjusting nuts at the lower end of theadjusting rod, ashaft journaled at the upper por? the lifting rod havingthe lug, when descending engaging the adjusting nuts of its adjustingrod, pulling down the lever extending from the first of 'said shafts andthereby forcing the arm of said latter shaft against one of the arms ofthe bell to dsengage the other arm of the bell from the key of the guiderod and thereby releasing the slide of the press with its die head.

6. In an apparatus of the character described

